Best Celebrity Hair Looks to Copy for Prom

It’s no secret that we love a glamorous hair moment on the red carpet. From Old Hollywood waves full of bounce and shine to intricate updos that steal the spotlight, we’ve saved them all on our Pinterest boards. But when it comes to actually DIYing something for prom night, we don’t always know where to begin. Despite countless YouTube tutorial viewings, it’s always tempting to go out with a messy bun and leave it at that. But, with a little planning, you can easily come up with something perfect for the dance floor. And who better to provide inspiration than our favorite celebs? To help take the pressure out of your planning, we sifted through some of the best red carpet beauty moments to find 19 ‘dos just waiting to be worn to prom. From Zendaya’s scene-stealing low ponytail to Lucy Hale’s floral updo, these are guaranteed to look amazing both on Instagram and IRL. Plus, we’ve included tips and tricks for getting the look at home — so don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

Click through to see 19 celebs FLAWLESSLY demonstrate every kind of prom hairstyle.

Zendaya

There are ponytails you wear to the gym, and then there's Zendaya's statement-making, volumized low pony. Parted down the middle and completely smooth on the sides, the length of Zendaya's ponytail was teased to play up her natural curls – the perfect pairing to her slip dress and bejeweled choker.

Perrie Edwards

'70s-inspired sleek hair is making a major comeback, and it happens to be the perfect look if you plan on wearing a disco ball-like dress similar to Little Mix's Perrie Edwards. To get the long, super straight finish, blow-dry your hair before going over it with a flatiron and shine spray like Garnier Fructis Brilliantine Shine Glossing Spray from the mid-lengths through the ends of your hair. And don't worry if you need a little long hair boost – even Perrie added some clip-in hair extensions to get the full "Cher hair" effect.

Hailee Steinfeld

Hailee's knotted updo was all about the details. Chris Appleton was behind the structured knot, which will definitely require a little practice (or a trip to the salon). After gathering the lower half of Hailee's hair into a ponytail, Chris used Toni & Guy Style Spray Wax through the top section of the hair for a high-shine finish and curled the hair with a one-inch wand for volume. For the knots, Chris brushed through the curls and joined the top section of hair with the pony, wrapping sections of Hailee's hair in a clockwise motion above and below to create a flower shape. To finish, he secured the look with pins and Toni & Guy Medium Hold Hairspray.

Janelle Monae

Lea Michele

Hairstylist Sarah Potempa created Lea Michele's classic topknot for the Oscars. After running her strands through a flatiron for silky shine, Sarah pulled Lea's hair into a high ponytail above the crown of her head before twisting it into a knot and finishing with a smoothing cream.

Zoe Kravitz

We love Zoe’s individualized take on the half-up, half-down hairstyle, featuring braids and buzzed sides. But, even if you're not rocking Zoe's signature style, you can still upgrade your half up look with mermaid waves and a detailed knot at the back of your hair.

Bella Hadid

Bella loves a sleek updo both on and off the runway, and her recent high ponytail at Oscar de la Renta is the perfect way to show off a killer pair of earrings or dramatic smoky eye. To get that perfectly polished finish, Orlando Pita used his own line of products like the Orlando Pita Play Well Behaved Anti-Frizz Cream Serum, which combats frizz while making it easy to smooth your hair back.

Emma Stone

Emma Stone's Old Hollywood waves won the red carpet, and they’ll definitely win prom, too. The key to the look, which hairstylist Mara Roszak created, is to use a one-inch curling iron and make sure you curl each section of your hair in the same direction. Set your curls with hairspray (Mara used L'Oréal Paris Elnett Satin Hairspray), and brush through your curls with a paddle brush once they've cooled.

Kendall Jenner

Before she got a lob, Kendall wore her formerly long locks in one of the coolest ponytails we've ever seen – the bubble pony. Jen Atkin started out by prepping Kendall’s damp hair with a volumizing mousse and blow-drying it. After adding grip to her lengths with her Ouai Texturizing Hair Spray, Jen gathered Kendall's hair into a single low ponytail. She then divided the pony into sections by adding three more elastics through the length and gently pulled each section to get the fun bubble effect.

Jennifer Lawrence

Keep your hair out of your face while you dance with this fun take on the French braid. Hairstylist Jenny Cho added textured waves throughout Jennifer’s hair before creating a reverse French braid down the back of her head. For an effortless finish, hit your braid with more dry texturizing spray once you're done and gently pull apart the braid for a breezy vibe.

Selena Gomez

If you're going for a modern princess look at prom similar to Selena's red Prada gown, why not try her hairstyle, too? Opting for a classic low ponytail, hairstylist Nikki Lee parted Selena's hair down the middle and added polished, loose curls through the length of her pony.

Gigi Hadid

There's a reason bombshell curls make an appearance at every red carpet event – the volumized, tousled look is the perfect finishing touch for any outfit. To make sure your curls don't fall flat, prep damp hair with a volumizing mousse like Wella EIMI Root Shoot; the precise applicator makes it easy to concentrate the product at the roots of your hair.

Lucy Hale

There isn't a more romantic updo for prom than Lucy's braided knot with floral details. Her go-to girl Kristin Ess was behind the stunning style, creating three inverted French braids and two fishtail braids for the knot, then loosely waving the front sections of Lucy's hair. For the finishing touch, Kristin tucked silk flowers throughout and added a crystal headpiece for some sparkle.

Margot Robbie

Not quite an updo but not completely left loose either, Margot's loose fishtail braided look is the perfect hair compromise. The key to copying Margot's effortless style is to use a curling iron first for loose waves. Once they've cooled, brush through your hair to get rid of any knots and then create a fishtail (or three-strand!) braid towards the bottom of your hair.